This is the year I’ve decided to make a giant step toward the dark side. Having had no more then a handful of Cubans prior to this I was at a loss as to where to start. After several recent trades, purchases and an up coming box share I’ve now acquired a reasonable diversity. In the coming weeks and months I will begin a series of newbie ISOM reviews that may come in handy to others in my position. Here goes, please be gentle

Pre-light;
The cigar is 4 3/8x42 and I believe classified as a minuto. Some other cigars in this class are; Bolivar Coronas Junior, Partagas Shorts, Punch Tres Petits to name a few. The wrapper was light tan that displayed a bit of inconstancy in the color. It can also be described as smooth to the touch yet was covered with small bumps or dimples. My only conclusion for this was a very tightly wound wrapper over a less then smooth binder. The cap was a distinctly different color that I would describe as a dark candela. The cigar was very tightly constructed with no soft spots found. The aroma of the tobacco was non remarkable.

Cut;
The cap easily and cleanly cut and did not unravel. The pre-light draw was very firm.

Light;
It was when I began to toast the foot that I could smell that telltale Cuban tobacco. Upon actually lighting it I could tell that the firm draw was going to be an issue. I tried to work the cigar by rolling it between my fingers to loosen it but this wasn’t working.
Burn/ash
The burn started out a tad crooked, more then likely from me. It tried for the entire cigar to correct its self and managed to do so with about 1/3 left. The first ash didn’t even make it to an inch after that subsequent ashes dropped at an inch like clockwork. This was definitely a medium filler cigar.

Taste
The taste profile of this cigar never changed its entire length. I detected a distinct taste of leather and burnt toast there was perhaps a touch of pepper as well. I would say mild to medium bodied in profile. I was disappointed in the volume of smoke produced, which I thought was on the light side. This may have been attributable to the firm draw, which by the way continued to be annoying.

Overall
I found this cigar to be pleasant but not memorable. I think the draw affected my overall impression of this smoke. I enjoyed the taste and the minuto format is a neat little size just right for 30 minutes. My disappointments where in the draw and the smoke volume. I have one more of these babies maybe in the coming weeks I’ll do a follow up and see if my impressions change.

I think we are seeing the reincarnation of Fatshotbud.

Great review of a mediocre smoke.

Where's Limoric?

Thats funny you calling it mediocre, cause thats basically my conclusion as well. There is a bunch of ol boys at that other place that are offering to send me some more cause I musta had a bad smoke. They think these are the bomb. Hmmmmm damn that second one was terrible as well (oh guys!) LOL.

I'm about 3 into a box from OSU Feb 03 and they are excellent little smokes, IMHO. The ones I have are a much darker color than you describe, burned even, smooth and with a rich, but not complex, flavor. A very close rival of the Partagas Shorts. Maybe I just got the right box LOL.

Barry

Feb 03 huh, the ones I had were light also - maybe age will help.

Hensed.. I have tried a lot of the smaller ISOM cigars and find that although they don't have the really great taste of the larger ring sizes they do have some of the unique taste of ISOMs.

When I want a little more taste and a shorter smoke time I go to these little fellas. And they are usually much less expensive (read cheaper)then their big brothers. I especially like the Partagas Shorts...69

Hey wait a sec guys I'm not crying here. Nor am I dissing anyones pleasurable or goto smoke. I knew I was smoking a Cuban I could distinctly taste it. But we all know that a stiff roll is one of the re-occuring knocks on these fine cigars. I really do believe that the roll affected the amount of smoke produced and in my opinion to firm of a draw also produces negative taste effects. I'm not going to walk away from this saying I don't ever want to try these again, thats why I always have two, one for the impression and the second to confirm it. I will definitely be re-visiting this smoke and those of similar size, as a matter of fact stay tuned and I will be doing a Partagas short review as soon as mine come in.

hensed,

I've had the Party Shorts from 03 also and they are excellent too! I'm beginning to think that the 03s are what's making the difference. A tight draw definetly hinders the experience of any cigar.

So far from the 03 productions I've had the RASCC, Part. Short and the Monte #4. None have had draw problems and the Monte #4 from 03 beat the box of 98s that I just finished hands down.

Barry

woo hoo my shorts are 03.

The only small ISOMs I have smoked so far that I really liked, Monte #4 and RyJ.

Yo, I'm right here bassdude. Oh ya Cubans rock, hehehe. Took be long enough eh!

What do you expect from a box of $50 Cubans. Hehehe just kidding. You gotta go for the Rass, way better smoke for not much more $$$

Partagas Shorts, best little smoke.

Punch coronas, worst

I got a recommendation for a nice small smoke in the "small ISOM" genre. La Flor de Cano Predelictos Tubos. You can get 25 tubes for $77 bucks on one of the popular sites out there that we all know of, that shall remain nameless. 😉

That is an EXCELLENT smoke for $3 a stick. IMHO.

hensed where's the party short review?

Lim wow 2 months, you been on hiatus?

Dude... I liked the Punch Coronas and the petit coronas. All in your taste of smokes I guess.

I smoked them all and forgot to do a write up. But don't worry I have some winging their way to us as we speak.